DHAKA, June 3, 2024 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said Dhaka is trying to extend the Malaysian government’s deadline to receive Bangladeshi manpower that ended on May 31 as a large number of intending workers failed to reach Kuala Lumpur within the timeframe.  

“We are trying … discussion is going on so that Malaysia extends the deadline for recruiting foreign workers,” he told reporters while replying to a question at the foreign ministry here.

In March, Malaysia announced May 31 as the deadline to bring in foreign workers from 14 countries, including Bangladesh.

The foreign minister said he has already talked with the state minister for expatriate welfare and overseas employment Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury regarding the matter.

Hasan said stern action will be taken against those who are responsible for the crisis.

Meanwhile, State Minister for expatriate welfare and overseas employment Shofiqur Rahman told media that they were working to reopen the Malaysian labour market and would sit with the Malaysian High Commissioner in Dhaka on June 5 to decide their next course of action.

Despite getting clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) a total of 16,970 migrant workers could not reach Malaysia before May 31.

DW’s made documentary on peacekeepers intentionally   

Replying to a question, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said that the recent Deutsche Welle (DW) documentary on UN peacekeepers was made “intentionally” to undermine the contributions of the Bangladeshi peacekeepers.

“There is nothing substantial. It is very difficult to understand its essence because it was not made based on facts. It seems it was done intentionally to undermine our peacekeepers’ contributions to the UN missions,” he said.

About his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on May 30, the minister said Guterres highly lauded the dedication and sincerity of Bangladeshi peacekeepers. 

No travel ban on Benazir

Replying to another query, Hasan said that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed can travel anywhere in the world as no travel ban has been issued against him anywhere.

“Look, there has been no travel ban against him – neither from any court nor from the Anti-Corruption Commission,” he said.

The foreign minister said it is to be seen whether Benazir Ahmed appears before the ACC on June 6.

The foreign minister highlighted outcomes of different meetings those he held during his recent visit to Antigua and Barbuda and at the UN headquarters in New York.